The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-12
PROFESSIONAL cAApERoNs.
PhilaslelnhiA TelegrAph.

OVu AnOW JucS W AtAt " NNAAA aNAe She belongs peculiarly to Washing ton and is born of the necessities ot the place. She Is several--or rather there are several of her. If you are a lady and happen to be elected to Washington society through having your husband chosen to sit in the leg islative halls or to hold other place of honor under the Federal government, you may find her useful. She teaches how to entertain, and clears away the thorns from your path on your en- trance to Washington society.
 The wives and daughters of new congressman and officials are fre- quentlv thrown into society without previous preparation. From the quiet of country home this is a terrible transition. There are ladies here in Washington whose husbands have been army or navy officers. They have spent years in society, and have held and still hold high rank. The mysteries of form and usage are familiar to them. but the death or re- tirement of their husbands has reduced their finances below the figures of their eXtravagant tastes. These ladies now sustain their position in society by leading the uninitiated through the mysterious mazes. They teach the wives of new senators and mem- bers from the back districts the polite forms, and pilot them safely through a winter in Washington. The rela- tion they hold to novice is that of superior, who condescends to take the part of a friendly adviser or chap eron. They are courted, followed and paid They are women who have been belles in society in the past, and who dictate its forms now. They now make a business of pleasure. They advise their patrons what to wear, how to furnish their house, how to talk and act, how to set their tables, how to receive callers and who 10 re- ceive; when to call, how to call, and who to call on. They tell them the difference between m ordinary tea and high tea between dinner party and luncheon. They rub the dust of their dialect and teach them polite forms of speech, and tell them what to talk about. They lead them around the circle and teach by example. These chaperons are not known as such except to those who employ them, and they are the most courted of all society. They are experts in Washington life.
 In the morning, when they are not circling the rounds of society, they act the part of private conversational ists. There are always a number of wealthy ladies who, on account of not yet knowing the ways of society, or of ill health, or perhaps because they are in mourning, are not in the social swim.
 As conversees, these queens and fdc- totumS of society bring all the gossip and goings- on in society in morning call upon those wealthy victims of seclusion. They tell them who hqd receptions last night and who were there; what they wore, what they said and what was said about them. They relate the latest private scandal :; tell what different people think of each other, and how each is measured by the whole of society. They report how long MT. - talked with Miss Millions, and repeat what "society" thought of it. They discuss the en- agreements made, and broken off. All the little bits of gossip, small talk and scandals they carry with exact mem- ory as to all the interesting details, and keep their secluded patrons as well posted as if they were among the most gay. They tighten up melan- choly morning.
 Some of the most fashionable wo- men who have long been the "leaders" of society earn in this way the means to keep up their establishment and to maintain themselves in fashionable luxury. The wives and daughters of some famous men now dead are pro- fessional leaders of society, and live by their profession.
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